⁷ The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.^(A)

²⁰ So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.^(A)

²⁴ But the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents.^(A)

⁶ that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.^(A)

⁹ and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,^(A)

²⁶ but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith^(A)—

⁵ through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the gentiles for the sake of his name,^(A)

The Faith of Abraham

⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going.^(A)

⁹ for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.^(A)

²⁰ When they heard it, they praised God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law.^(A)